The Opelousas courier., 1887-07-09

lama Press Association at Lake Charles,
june 1A--What the South Has Done, and
what Remains for Hex to Do--The OPP
portunity Of the Southern Boy.
Times Democrat.
At the annual convention of the Louisiana
Press, in session at Lake Charles, Maj. Il. A
Burke of New Orleans, delivered the address
on the Industrial SOUTH" on Thursday
night. Maj. Burke said:
Ample notice having been given by the otfi-
GERS of this association to persons lnv,.ed M h 10
who have been thus complimented to present
| apologies at this hour. .
| | will. however, venture TO ASK tine lhdni-
geuce of the association for presenting IN
| crude form and without the preparation the
cues t,on deserves, few thoughts bearing up
on the subiest kindly allotted to me
1.-THE INDUSTRIAL SOUTH"
twenty-five years ago, during season OF
INV country's peril, l became associated with
an earnest and successful effort to promote the
industrial development in the South
Perhaps it is largely due to the events OF
have always been, with tender and holy mem
ories, that the changing scenes and occnpa-
tons of o busy life become more and more
connected with the great question under dis
| cussion. >,
Necessity created, from the crude natural
resources Of the South, the means OF trans
| portation for our armies west OF the M'ssis-
sippi. ,.o,-;a,,4
earpenter and harness shops were brought
into existence.
An amy of mechanics, white and c0ioted,
were therein trained to the service OF theif
country hut the smoke of battle had scarcely
died away, before every vestige OF the great
! workshops disappeared.
II seemed as ii, with the lowering OF the
stars and bars, the South had also given up
all hope of achieving Industrial independence.
Our neople ut once returned to their allegi-
ance to ths industrial North
The surrender was as complete as that OF
Every wagon, set of harness, plow. agricul-
tural implement, tub, bucket, shoe, hat or ar
ticle of clothing bought by our people PAID
it's tribute to the North, swelling the vasl
! sum sent ont of the South for meat, bread ana
fofuge. , ::
In vain the richly metaied ores cropped in
yitingly from the mountain side.
In vain The dusky motor slumbered meath
the Cumberland, the Warrior the Cahaoa anu
in the hills of Arkansas.
The towering rines of Louisiana raised their
;muosims heads untouched; ber generous soil
If surprising fertility remained untitled.
We are ioId that the financial condition OF
our people and the war ct reconstrne.ioa, , more W
deadly in its financial effect, retaFaea our 'n'
dnstra progress.
The lack OF industrial training and the lack
3 of knowledge Of improved tools, implements
: and machinery, it is admitted, stood In our
: way. 1t was surely not alone lghoranee Va
) the fuct that the South abounded in rich min
erals -, ~ ,.;u
3 of Alabama with piles OF stones. tor Sixty
= yeals the geologisis have heaped up the writ
= ten records ut the vast mineral WeaiTn Oh men
O lucky, Tennessee, Georgia and the Virginlas
e North Car lolina and Arkansas, it is vel
l. lunyn. have Bessemer ore enough to rebuild
IS the navy, fortify the country and relay every
J, mile of iron on the railways OF the United
States with steel Texas was 1hfhing o"' "a'
r i,au when the war closed.
e There is not un editor here from one oil nint
o lcalities i'm North Louisiana that can wall
q through his parish without stumbling ovel
ir iron ore and minerals that ought to quadru
Ia pie the ASSESSED vaiues Oh his phfis" ""s''
!. known To The world
d II will scarcely satisfy history to assn,n
{, that the causes enumerated fully justify GU
II long Ietl.argy respecting industrial pro
20 .ress Onr ports were closed. the home mart
sr of commerce were not open 70 u.s. chahhe's .
i,strnction were not available, and yet, cas-
le and vet uf the Mississippi industrial WORK
g. were inaueurated twenty five years ago tina
he would do credit to any country.
Is Political strife and political agitation was
at necessity for decade, but we may wen paas'
and ask ourselves lten years after the inang'
Ia ration af economical government II It's Dali
to Iul influence shall continue with us forever
n Has the unhappy spirit of strife which st
SO connfrymen against conntrymen, anu came
BIT near dividing the republic, been trahsmAte
10 to ,,s as an abiding heritagei Are the men
K Shiloh, and the men of the i4th OF septembt
er fn nass off the stage OF life with eyes gsaria
ne with hatred. hands clenehed for blows, asl
IL l;ns ctmpressed for cruel words aimed OF col
I'd rlses of the past IN common ssruggsS so =,
y strife? Shall we continue to teach them
or annie to tear down, or shall they begin
Iy learn to build ups
ge Thouehtful men i'm the South, fully apFr
on ciating the gravity OF the second excuse ma
far uur people, lack of knowledge OF impl
ments and machinery, set about apply ing
remedy. .:,..a ,
munication was difficult and expensive IFo
tLe sonlh to Philadelphia; hence the Denen
M, If that great exhipitloh were hot @ 'e''o
"a The West ;pp. ared there, and the tes
80 nonv of all authorities points TO the rapid al
v =. wondrous development of that section OF 9
an ar country as tracsable. ln great oegfes' 70 U
q = ] Philadelphia Exposition
sV ae The Atlanta Exposition practically innns
W " rated the n,iustr rial movement southWasd a
ea 1 he louisville Exposition kept the ball s,t
A. ~ ;no Time aud circumstances combinei
he invite the opening OF gaeat sehool ol insss'
ne ls tiun at New Orleans, wherein the people
.. .ne the suuti, would be taught by object iesso
H. ,ha yaluas IF all that skill and science h
al III achieved, wherein they Wonid noe eiiay iea
al lie value of the wealth of Southern soiis nj
and forest, but have an opportunity TO exhat
sha;r reso,,rces to the world, and TO c0mpa
tl,e brst modern methods OF instrnct'on
Emrtn,e aud the United States.
Leaping over ten years af time. the Wofh
Exnositiom brought the South lace at Ia
with the hest thought aud achievements
n,o.ler,, science, skill aud art.
Rich as she was in resources heretofore, !
ssonth now stepped out into the lndustE
arena thrice armed with knowledge, and p
ting away the lethargy OF old has taken
! she great industrial contest with an ealne
mss and degree of success that amazes
) world.
At the beginning of these EKpositions thr
fourths of Birmingham was cotton heio'
Alabama s manufacturing Industries
then produced ---.----- $.a,oo.' Pc oes
On Jan. 1, 1887 S6--..-.---.-..------o o9'o''''
4. increase 500 2ss,
Ceuegia.s products from manufac-
!, IN lures was then valued at----.-Sso, ,aao ao
Pc Jan. u 1901 ----.'- -
test I.e.aase. s3l ,457,
~ sn0 Kentucky produced in Inanufaetn- 100
.sat ries in 1880 an aggregate
snJ 1aa Juu i, 1887 So,a4o'
ess- I,ora.sa S3O, ,96i
H. Souti, Carolina shows an increase OF u o5S
she tSs,,sssasaa Ten 80 28, ass
s0In- as:as:ss;nn; 6,:300
are Eiss;da 5,225